Las Vegas Gamblers are hit hard by rising gas prices

In spite of the fact that all the large Sin City casinos are doing their best to draw more Las Vegas visitors this year with rebates and coupons, their slot machine business is on the decline. And seeing that Vegas slot machine business creates about two thirds of Las Vegas, Nevada’s earnings, it’s not such great news for the Sin City hotel casinos.

According to the Gaming Control Board, Vegas gamblers wagered $1.1 billion less in slot machines compared to last year. Slot machines on The Strip are down half a billion dollars. This corresponds to a drop of 12% in comparison to 2007. With drivers shelling out more than $4 per gallon for gas, bettors are really having to tighten their belts nowadays. Although with the price of fuel dropping, these numbers could change in the future.

Las Vegas casinos aren’t really bothered about this drop in slot machine earnings, the latest figures show that table game play is actually increasing. On The Strip the volume for Las Vegas table games is up 5 percent, with baccarat play up 15 percent and blackjack on the rise at 7 percent. This might seem like good news but, the truth is that Las Vegas casinos won 21 percent less in July as a result of some lucky Las Vegas gamblers as well as bettors winning a larger percentage than customary.

The infamous saying, “The house always wins”, might have been the norm in the past. But as these reports have shown us, Sin City casinos are are trying harder to make a profit than in the past. This may be the best time for Sin City gamblers to start using their Sin City vouchers, taking advantage of discounts, and using their frequent flyer miles. With the Las Vegas, Nevada hotel casinos having a run of bad luck, this might be the most convenient occasion for you to take a trip to Las Vegas.